TOPIC: Mental Illness?

Over the past few months I have noticed that I lot of people don't clearly understand how to cope with a loved one who has a mental illness. I thought it would be a good idea, from personal experience, to identify some key points here.

First off, a person with a mental illness is not doing it for attention. They are not depressed, or manic, or hearing things, or whatever is going on at the present moment for giggles. It is something that is 100% affecting them and although you say you're sorry, they too probably wish it wasn't happening.

Secondly, just because someone has a mental illness, it does not mean they are fragile. Yes there are some things that are specific triggers and those triggers can cause great distress, but the person does not need to have everyone walk on eggshells around them in order to have a normal conversation.

Thirdly, please DONT blame the person with a mental illness for acting crazy or being crazy. In a fight, sometimes in haste you might call your loved one crazy or insane and blame the entire situation on their disorder- please PLEASE do not do this. This will do nothing but make the situation worse and if the illness is not being treated properly, this could easily send the person into a spiral that could have a terrible outcome.

Finally, always make sure you address how much you love and support your loved one. During these rough times it is easy to feel very alone and helpless and the simplest of "I'm here for you" or "I will always love and care for you" 's mean the world to someone. Keep this in mind as you go through your day to day activities. I'm not saying to constantly coddle them and drown them with affection but the knowledge that someone, although they don't understand what its like, is there to support and help the person through it truly and utterly makes a difference.

I just wrote a post about Selena Gomez being candid about her mental health on the American Music Awards tonight. I think it was really powerful that she used the stage and audience to speak about it to take one step further to normalize mental health issues. She also encouraged treatment for people who "feel broken". I think her stepping up like this helps peple find their voice to be able to support others and to have conversation about it. When things are taboo or too hush hush, people avoid talking about it or addressiing it and then they end up treating others unfairly or avoiding them all together. Normalizing mental health issues is going to take a while, but its a step in the right direction to keep the conversation going!